Feed controlling apparatus



May 28, 1940.

N. s. MADSEN I 2,202,216

FEED CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed lay 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l6 CL 22some? I l8 r 24EELIEF 9a 9a VALVE In 25 16 I9 7 15 PUMP 2 IO o fie-3 20a12 '2o&

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y 1940- N. s. MADSEN 2,202,216 I FEED CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed llay15', 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bel-ll l/lll/l/l ?atented 28, 1940 FEEDCONTROLLING APPARATUS Norman S. Madsen, Michigan City, End, assignor toSullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMay 15, 1936, Serial No. 79,982

6 (llaims.

My invention relates to controlling devices,

from one aspect thereof, and, from another aspect, to drill feeding andcontrolling mechanisms. It is not limited, however, to drill feeding,and, in a broad aspect, is applicable to substantially any hydraulicfeeding problem requiring alternate high speed motion and closelyregulated feed.

In core drilling and similar operations it is important to be able toeffect retraction of the feeding mechanism at a rapid rate, to initiateit instantly when desired, and to regulate forward feed with greatnicety. To secure the first two desiderata mentioned and also to be ableto resume immediately forward feed at precisely the same rate at whichthis had been taking place prior to interruption or reversal of feed hasnot, so far as I am advised, been possible prior to my invention.

In a drilling apparatus of widely recognized superiority, hydraulic feedand retraction have been provided for, and by the use of a four-way,rotary valve, it has been possible to change from feed to no-feed, andto retraction, quickly and at will; but where feed was interrupted orreverse was efi'ected, arr-instantaneous readjustment to optimum feedingconditions was impossible. Again, With such an apparatus, when no-feedposition of the valve was effected, the hydraulic pump was compelled towork against a considerable load, whereas it would have been desirableif possible (and it is possible with my invention) to allow the pumpmerely to circulate the feeding fluidsubstantially only against afriction head.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved controllingdevice. It is another object of my invention to provide an improvedcontrolling device for a reversible feeding mechanism. It is a furtherobject of my invention to provide an improved controlling device for areversible feeding mechanism in which provision is made for facile andcertain return to optimum feeding conditions after feed has been cutoff. or reversed; and with respect to this object of my invention it isa further subordinate object to provide improved means wherebyadjustment may be made so that a wide range of predetermination ofminimum feeding speeds may be possible. It is still another object of myinvention to provide an improved hydraulic feeding mechanism havingimproved controlling means so arranged that a single-manuallycontrollable,

operating element may, by generically different types of movement,selectively control feeding direction and feeding speed at' theoperators will.

From one aspect, my invention, in a preferred I embodiment thereof, maycomprise a casing having fluid supply conduit means leading thereto, sfluid return conduit means leading therefrom, a plurailty of furtherpassages adapted to serve selectively as fluid supply or return means,and valve means for controlling the selective connection of saidpassages with said conduit means 10 and adjustable to vary the area ofat least one connection previously established, together with manuallyoperable controlling means having different movements for effecting theselection of connections and the area variation thereof at K5 the willof the operator. Desirably, one of said movements may be reciprocatoryand another rotary, but it will be understood that any forms of relativemovement between valve and valve chamber porting in which relativemovement 0 in one direction varies the generic fluid flow and movementin a-diiferent direction effects a control of the rate of fluid flow'liewithin the scope of this aspect of my invention; and a construction inwhich said valve means may be in the form of a single valve reciprocableto effect modifications in the nature of the connections between thepassages and conduits and rotatable 4 to vary flow area, is verysatisfactory. Preferably, means for providing an adjustable limit toarea variation is provided and a very satisfactory form ofconstructioninvolves a control of return flow while having fluid supplyarea unrestricted. From another aspect, my invention comprises areversible hydraulic feeding'mechanism having improved controllingmechanism in which preferably a single manually operable controllingelement may at the will of the operator, effect, by different types ofmanipulation thereof, selectively (a) control of direction of feed andof 40 the existence of feed, and (b) control of the rate of feed. Apreferred embodiment of this aspect of my invention employs a cylinderand piston type reversible hydraulic feed and, under the control of thecontrolling element mentioned, a valve capable both of reciprocatory androtary movement. By the employment of appropriate stops, including anadjustable stop whose position controls the minimum rate of feedselectable by rotation of the valve, instantaneous return to a,desired'feed rate is possible, notwithstanding an intervening period ofnon-feed, or of retraction. By appropriate arrangements, differentminimum feed rates for advance'and retraction are possible, or apredetermined minimum forward feed and interruption entirely ofretraction maybe made possible upon valve rotation, asby the use of apin in fixed relation to the valve and traveling in a U-slot whose baseis parallel to the valve axis and whose arms extend arcuately about theaxial line of the valve and have independent means for limiting traveltherein. a I

From still another aspect my invention comprises the provision of apump, a reservoir, a

through the controlling valve shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the controlling valve mechanism with partsin different positions from those of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve inposition for restricted forward feed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively transverse sections on the planes of thesection lines 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing the valve position priorto rotation to minimum speed position.

Fig. 8 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve inposition to eifect retraction.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section in the plane of line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing the stop ring, stop pin andstop lugs, with the control handle in position with its stop lug againstthe stop pin. Y

Fig. 11 shows a modified mode of securing a predetermined minimum feedrate.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it may be noticed that ill indicates aportion of a core drilling apparatus, of which |I designates the chuck,|2 the drive rod, IS the thrust bearing housing, |4 the crosshead, l5,IS the feed cylinders, I6, |6 the feed piston rods, and I1 one of thefeed pistons, while I8, I 8 are the guide rods for the crosshead. Fluidconducting passages l9 and 20 have connection through branches i9a, |9aand 20a, 20a respectively with the upper and lower ends of the feedcylinders |5, |5. A hydraulic pump 2|, powerdriven, desirably, by anysuitable means, draws fluid, preferably oil, from a sump, herein a tank22, and delivers it at an appropriate pressure to a supply conduit 23. Areturn conduit 24 leads back to the tank 22, and a valve mechanism,generally designated 25, controls the connections of the passages l9 and20 with the conduits 23 and 24.

Fig. 2 may be noted for an understanding of the valve mechanism 25. Thismay be noted herein to include a body or casing element 26, providedwith heads 21 and 28 and with bushings 29 and 30 arranged within thebore 3| of the casing. Each bushing has a shoulder 32 co-operating witha shoulder 33 on theinner wall of the casing and clamped against thatshoulder when the adjacent head is brought into place. The casing isannularly internally grooved about midway between its ends, as at 35,and the adjacent ends of the bushings 29, 39 are spaced apart so thatthe groove 35 is in free communication with the cylindrical chamber 36which extends from end to end of the body within the bores of thebushings. A connection 31 is provided in the body for the supply conduit23 which opens into the groove 35 so that the latter becomes an annularsupply chamber.

Annular grooves 38 and 39, equally spaced from the groove 35 and atopposite sides of the latter, communicate through suitable openings 40and 4| respectively with the fluid conducting passages 20 and I9; andthe bushings 29 and 30 are each provided with diametrically oppositepassages, the passages in bushing 29 designated 29a and those in bushing36 designated 36a, so that the grooves 38 and 39 each communicate withthe.cylindrical chamber 36. The head 28 has an opening 42 therethroughwith which the return conduit 24 communicates. The bushings are heldagainst rotation relative to the casing by longitudinal peripheralgrooves 43 and stop pins 44.

Within the chamber 36 there is reciprocably and rotatably mounted avalve element 46. This valve element is hoilow,.having a chamber 41formed therein extending nearly throughout its length; and passages 48connect the chamber 41 with the space at the end of the valve remotefrom the head 28. The periphery of the valve is grooved at oppositesides of the central longitudinal zone of said valve, so that annulargrooves 5| and 52 completely surround the exterior of the valve, andeach of these'grooves is of sufilcient length to be capable ofconnecting the annular supply groove 35 with one of the pairs of fluidconducting passages 29 1 or 30a. The body of the valve 46 has a collaror spool-like portion 54 at one end, a similar portion 55 at the otherend and a wider spool-like portion 56 adjacent its middle. The valve istraversed at about the longitudinal center thereof and midway betweenthe ends of the spool-like portion 56 by a pair of diametricallyopposite passages 51 and 58, each of an arcuate width approximatelyequal to the arcuate width of the ports 29a, 29a. and 30a, 30a. The port58 has in communication with it an auxiliary port 59 which is in theform of a V-like notch diminishing in depth circumferentially of thevalve towards its extremity remote from-its point of communication withthe port 58 and also diminishing in width towards said point.

The valve 46 has a reduced stem 6| which passes through the head 21 andis pivotally connected as at 63 to an operating handle or lever 64. Thelower end of the lever 64 is pivotally connected at 65 to a link 66whose other end is pivotally connected at 61 to pairs of projecting arms68 secured to a rotating ring 69 turning upon a cylindrical surface 10,near the end of the body 26. Between the ring 69 and a shoulder 1|formed on the body 26, there is adjustably rotatably mounted a stop ring12, also journaled on the cylindrical surface 10, and having a set screw13, by means of which its position may be fixed. The stop ring carries astop pin 15, whose position can obviously be adjusted by rotating thestop ring. A stop 16 is'arranged on the body 26 for engagement by a lug11 mounted on the ring 69, when full open position of the valve isdesired; and the lug 11 is adapted to co-operate with the pin in minimumfeed position of the valve. A third stop lug 80 is provided on the body26 to limit rotation of the valve beyond a totally closed position.

It will be appreciated that the handle 64, when pressed laterally, willrotate aboutthe axis of the stem 6| and turn the valve 46 with it andalso turn the ring 69 with it. When the handle 64 is either pushed orpulled, it will efiect longitudinal movement of the valve 46: whenpushed,

moving the ports 51, 58 opposite the ports Sim,

while opposite longitudinal movement of said valve will createconnections for forward feed.

The mode of operation of the illustrative embodiment of the inventionwhich has been described will easily be understood. While the valvemechanism 25 is shown in one position in Fig. 1 and in another positionin Fig. 2, it will be understood that it may assume any convenientposition, but will preferably be arranged with its body 26 horizontaland with the handle 64 nearly upright and towards the operator as hestands in the bst position to control the work to be done.

The position of Fig. 2 represents the "off" position, with no feed,either forward or reverse. The fluid discharged by the pump it simplyflows through conduit 23, connection 31, groove 35, ports 51, 58,chamber 61, chamber 36, connection 42, and pipe 24 back to the tank 22.This is a great advantage in that the load on the pump is much reduced,and wear and danger of leakage minimized. In this position of valve $6fluid is entrapped in the passages is, 2G, etc., and in the cylindersI5, I 5 and the parts are held against movement.

Fig. 1 shows the feed pistons 11 in bottom position. Let us thereforeassume that the operator will desire to raise the pistons and the partswhich they support. To do this he will need to supply fluid beneath thepistons l1 and permit fluid above them to escape. Accordingly, theoperator will press the handle element 64 backward, and that will movethe valve 68 backand the groove 5! on the valve will connect annulargroove 35 with ports 29a. and so with groove 38 and connection to andpassages 20, 20a and 20a. Fluid will then be delivered to the lower endsof the cylinders l5 and act therein to raise the pistons l1.Simultaneously ports 51 and 58 in the valve come opposite the ports 30a,

30a in the sleeve 30 and accordingly fluid may be displaced from theportions of the cylinder bores above the pistons l1, l1 and may flowthrough connections I911, Illa, l9 and M, annular groove 39, ports 30a,39a in the sleeve 30, ports 51, 58 in the valve 46, through the chamber41 within the valve, through the part of space 38 to the right ofthe-valve, through connection 62, and through conduit 2% back to thetank 22. The rate of raising may require no retardation, but if any isdesired, the handle may be turned clockwise (looking at the mechanismfrom the left hand end thereof in Fig. 2), and this rotary movement willdiminish the degree of communication of port 51 with the lower port 30a,and of port 58 with the upper port 30a. If desired this communicationcan be wholly interrupted, even the supplemental port 59 movingout ofcommunication with upper port 30a, or complete interruption ofcommunication may beavoided, by adjustment of ring 12 as will later bedescribed. The rate of feeding movement may be controlled by imposing aretarding effect upon it, with the connections described, but obviouslya reversal of connections of the valve mechanism with the lines 23 and2% would provide control by throttling flow of fluid to the cylinders.When the pistons l1 reach the desired upper point of travel the handle64 may be moved outwardly to bring. the valve 46 again to the positionof Fig. 2. 'It will be notedthat this will connect fluid delivery line23 with fluid return line 24 whether or not the handle 84 be rotatedagain to its original substantially upright position.

And now let it be assumed that a controlled forward (herein downward)feed is desired. When the lug 11 on the ring 69, which rotates with thevalve as above explained, contacts with a the stop 16 and' the valve 46is moved either inwardly or outwardly, it establishes full openconnections between ports 51, 58 and ports 30a, 30a. or ports 29a, 29a.When the valve 46 is rotated until lug 11 engages stop 89 on the casing26, no open passage between the interior of the valve and either groove39 or 36 will remain. If however, ring 12 be adjusted so that pin 15 isnot quite so far around (clockwise) as lug 80, then notch 59 may serveto provide a connection of small flow area between one or the other ofthe grooves 38 or 89 (through upper port 29a or 36a) and the interior ofvalve 36. Because of the double taper, so-to-speak, or notch 59, a wellregulated flow control will be possible, anything from virtually a portof a cross section no larger than a pin hole to a cross sectional areaequal a port perhaps square, though the maximum area of port 5:: is ofcourse capable of being made large or small as desired. When the fluidflow through the valve mechanism 25 is restricted, a portion of thefluid supplied by the pump is by-passed from the supply conduit 23through the relief valve and by-pass line shown in Fig. 1, back to thesupply tank. Of course as soon as port 58 begins to connect with one orthe other of ports 29a or 30a more rapid increase in area may be made.Let us assume that ring 12 is adjusted so that rotation of handle 86clockwise willbe stopped by engagement of lug 11 with pin 15 when port59 is covered for onehalf its length by sleeve 29 when valve 48 is drawnforward and rotated as far as pin 15 will permit. The operator mayobviously effect a restricted predetermined rate of forward-feed merelyby drawing handle at towardshim and rotating it until pin 15 stops lug11. If the setting of ring 12 is made just what is desired, 4

the operator can change his chucks engagement with the rod line, ormomentarily retract before continuing feed, or in general interrupt andrenew feeding, and go at once back to the same desired feeding rate.

Fig. 11 shows a modification. Obviously the equivalent of notch 59 maybe formed in sleeve 29 (min both sleeves), as for example a notch. orsaw slot as at 59a in Fig. 11. The shape of port 58 would then beregular in outline.

The mechanism specifically described obviously possesses greatadvantages in practical use. Full speed feed in either direction ispossible. Any desired predeterminedly limited feed in either directionis possible. Full speed feed in one direction and predeterminedlylimited feed in the, other is possible. Motion to oil position ispossible with the simplest possible (rectilinear) movement from any oneposition. Automatic by-passing takes place whenever off position istaken. The predetermined minimum speeds may be easily and quicklyadjusted. Any speed between the predetermined minimum and maximum can besecured by mere rotation of the valve. Engagement of the ends of thevalve with the heads of the casing automatically locate the valve inoptimum flow position. The best feeding speed can be immediately resumedafter temporary interruptions of feed. The device is simple, certain inoperation and rugged, and provides a facility of operation much neededwith hydraulically fed devices. 7

While there is in this application specifically illustrated anddescribed one form, together with a minor modification, which theinvention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the showingprovided is for purposes of illustration e and that the invention may befurther modified and embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. WhatI claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hydrauliccontrol device for controlling the fiow of a liquidbetween a hydraulic feed cylinder, a liquid reservoir, and a pump whichhas an intake connected with the liquid reservoir and a discharge forliquid under pressure connectible to the feed cylinder, said controldevice comprising a ported valve casing having a bore, a control valvemounted in said bore for movement relative to said ported casing andadapted to be moved oppositely from a neutral position in a directionwithin one plane to connect the pump discharge selectively to theopposite ends of the feed cylinder and to connect the ends of the feedcylinder not connected to the pump discharge to a return fiowconnection, said valve being adapted while stationary as regards itsfirst mentioned movements to be moved in a direction within a planemaking an angle with said first mentioned plane and being operative,purely by the latter movement thereof, in either of the opposite workingpositions of the valve assumed as a result of its first mentionedmovements, to control the amount of liquid flowing between said valvecasing and the feed cylinder, said'valve also being adapted to provide adirect connection between the pump discharge and the liquid supply whensaid valve is moved to its neutral position, said valve having fluidconducting means formed therein cooperating to provide said directconnection when said valve is in its neutral position, and which samefiuid conducting means establishes a flow connection for an end of thefeed cylinder when said valve is appropriately moved from its neutralposition in the manner first above mentioned, and a control means forsaid valve operable at will by an operator and by means 0 i which thevalve is movable either to control the amount, or the direction, ofliquid fiow relative to the feed cylinder.

2. A hydraulic control device as claimed in claiml, characterized inthat said valve is adapted to control the connection of said pumpdischarge to the feed cylinder and to said liquid supply by longitudinalmovement thereof and to control the amount of liquid flowing through theconnections to the feed cylinder by a rotary movement thereof.

3. A hydraulic control device for controlling the flow of a liquidbetween a hydraulic feed cylinder, a liquid reservoir, and a pump whichhas an intake connected with the liquid reservoirv and a discharge forliquid under pressure connectible to the feed cylinder, said controldevice comprising a ported valve casing having a bore, a control valvemounted in said bore for movement relative to said ported casing andadapted to be moved oppositely from a neutral position in a directionwithin one plane to connect the pump discharge selectively to theopposite ends of the feed cylinder and to connect the ends of the feedcylinder not connected to the pump discharge to a return fiowconnection, said valve being adapted while stationary as regards itsfirst mentioned movements to be moved in a direction within a planemaking an angle with said first mentioned plane and being operative,purely by the latter movement thereof, in either of the opposite workingpositions of the valve assumed as a result of its first mentionedmovement, to control the amount of liquid flowing between said valvecasing and the feed cylinder, said valve casing bore having a lateralfluid supply connection, an end connection with the point of discharge,and a pair of connections with the opposite ends of the feed cylinder,each of said last mentioned connections communicating with said valvecasing bore through ports extending less than completely around saidbore, said valve being hollow, having annular peripheral grooves at theopposite sides of its longitudinal center selectively operative toconnect the opposite ends of said feed cylinder to the supply connectionand being traversed by a port of relatively small arcuate extentadjacent its longitudinal center selectively operative to provide adischarge from the opposite ends of the feed cylinder, said .port insaid valve being adapted to be moved by a longitudinal movement of saidvalve into communication with said lateral fiuid supply connection orinto communication with either of said connections to the feed cylinder,and a control means for said valve operable at will by an operator andby means of which the valve is movable either to control the amount, orthe direction, of liquid flow relative to the feed cylinder.

4. A hydraulic control device for controlling the fiow of a liquidbetween a hydraulic feed cylinder, a liquid reservoir, and a pump whichhas an intake connected with the liquid reservoir and a discharge forliquid under pressure connectible to the feed cylinder, said controldevice comprising a ported valve casing having a bore, a control valvemounted in said bore for movement relative to said ported casing andadapted to be moved oppositeiy from a neutral position in a directionwithin one plane to connect the pump discharge selectively to theopposite ends of the feed cylinder and to connect the ends of the feedcylinder not connected to the pump discharge to a return flowconnection,

said valve being adapted while stationary as regards its first mentionedmovements to be moved in a direction within a plane making an angle withsaid first mentioned plane and being operative, purely by the lattermovement thereof, in either of the opposite working positions of thevalve assumed as a result of its first mentioned movement, to controlthe amount of liquid flowing between said valve casing and the feedcylinder, said valve casing bore having a lateral fluid supplyconnection, an end connection with the point of discharge, and a pair ofconnections with the opposite ends of the feed cylinder, said valvebeing hollow, having annular peripheral grooves at the opposite sides ofits longitudinal center and being traversed by a port of relativelysmall arcuate extent adjacent its longitudinal center, said port in saidvalve being adapted to be moved by a longitudinal movement of said valveinto communication with either of said connections to the feed cylinder,said valve being adapted to be rotated to interrupt communication ofsaid port with the connections with said teed cylinder,

, restricted port communicating with said valve port whereby selectivelya passage of small or' larger flow area may be provided, by rotarymovement of said valve, between an end 01 the feed cylinder and thehollow interior ofv said valve, and a control means for said valveoperable at will by an operator and by means of which the valve ismovable either to control the amount, or the direction, of liquid flowrelative to the feed cylinder.

5. A hydraulic control device for controlling the flow of a liquidbetween a hydraulic feed cylinder, a liquid reservoir, and a pump whichhas an intake connected with the liquid reservoir and a discharge forliquid under pressure connectible to the feed cylinder, said controldevice comprising a ported valve casing having a bore, a control valvemounted in said bore for longitudinal and rotary movements relative tosaid ported casing and adapted to be moved oppositely from a neutralposition in a longitudinal direction to connect the pump dischargeselectively to the opposite ends of the feed cylinder and to connect theends of the feed cylinder not connected to the pump discharge to areturn flow connection, said valve being adapted while stationary asregards its longitudinal movements to be rotated and beingoperatlve,.purely by the rotary movement thereof, in either of theopposite working positions of the valve assumed as a result of itslongitudinal movements, to control the amount of liquid flowing betweensaid valve casing and the feed cylinder, a control means for said valveoperable at will by an operator and by means of which the valve ismovable at any time either to control the amount, or the direction, oi.liquid flow relative to the feed cylinder. and means for limiting therotation of said 1 valve, said limiting means including two cooperablestops, one for positioning said valve for full flow establishment andthe other adjustable to'= ring in various relative positions on saidcasing for varying the limit of valve rotation.

' NORMAN S. MADSEN.

